I knew that Bergen was surrounded by seven mountains before I moved here. I could even pronounce one of them (somewhat!) correctly: Ulriken, on whose side my husband was born and raised.

But after living in this area for almost seven years, not only have I learned how to (somewhat !) say the other six mountain names, I’ve come to view the mountains as so much more than just Norwegian names that create the Bergen valley … and I feel a personal connection with three of them: Fløyen, Ulriken, and Løvstakken.

But I have enjoyed several cable car and funicular trips up two of these Bergen landscapes, and I lived on the side of one for five years. And, although photos and words about them have been interspersed throughout my blog posts, I thought I’d continue the theme of my past couple posts, share a few more “I promise I’ll get you published eventually!” words from my Knok.com post, and show a bit of my perspective of “my” Bergen mountains.

Løvstakken

I’ve written about and shared photos of Løvstakken often … and if Ulriken is my husband’s mountain, I consider Løvstakken mine!

Løvstakken as seen from Ulriken, looking across the southern Bergen valley; I love the cloud shadow! – June 4, 2009

Løvstakken as seen from Ulriken, zooming in on the southern slope where we lived; Flesland runway is in the distance – June 4, 2009

Løvstakken (and my Dad and Jan), as seen from Fløyen – January 14, 2010, 3:40 pm

walking in Langeskogen on Løvstakken – December 19, 2009

walking in Langeskogen on Løvstakken – December 19, 2009

walking photo-bombing MacKenzie on Løvstakken, around our townhouse community – May 30, 2008

looking down a Løvstakken ravine, around our townhouse community – May 30, 2008

throwing the ball for MacKenzie (she was unimpressed with the sun rise, but I love how the flash caught her eyes and her ball), next to our townhouse community – December 24, 2009, 10:14 am

Mac is still unimpressed with the sunrise! – December 24, 2009, 10:15 am

walking in Langeskogen on Løvstakken – October 13, 2012

walking in Langeskogen on Løvstakken – October 13, 2012

walking on Løvstakken, around our townhouse community – January 11, 2013, 12:38 pm

walking on Løvstakken, around our townhouse community, looking down into the Bergen valley – January 11, 2013, 12:40 pm

walking on Løvstakken, around our townhouse community, looking down into the Bergen valley – January 11, 2013, 12:42 pm

walking on Løvstakken, around our townhouse community – February 2, 2013, 11:06 pm

Fløyen

Of the seven mountains that surround Bergen, Fløyen is the most visited. The Fløibanen funicular travels between the city center to the top, but hiking up and down is also highly recommended! The views of the city from the top are a great perspective, and there’s a lot to do up there too.

on Fløibanen, about to pass the other funicular – someone is taking a photo of our car; I wish I could trade pics with her! – August 6, 2007

view of Bergen from partway up the tracks – August 6, 2007

zoom shot view of Bergen Harbor from the top of Fløyen; the Hanseatic Museum is the building next to the bus – August 6, 2007

another zoom shot view (different trip, different season!) of Bergen Harbor from the top of Fløyen, with Statsraad Lehmkuhl in port – January 14, 2010

not-so-zoom shot view of Bergen Harbor and out to the Norwegian Sea from the top of Fløyen, with Fløibanen making its way up the mountain – January 14, 2010

Ulriken

Ulriken is the highest mountain, and there is transportation from city center to the cable cars that take you to the summit … or of course you can hike it too! Once up, hiking opportunities abound … or, you can sit and enjoy the view, whether with your own impromptu picnic lunch, or with a drink or meal in the restaurant or on the terrace.

looking up Ulriken – May 31, 2009

Ulriken bus from downtown Bergen to the cable cars – June 4, 2009

June 4, 2009

outside the Ulriken cable car entrance – June 4, 2009

a little of what awaits you at the top! – June 4, 2009

waiting in line for the cable car – June 4, 2009, 9:42 am

greeting the other cable car – June 4, 2009, 10:04 am

we never did find out what the helicopter was needed for – June 4, 2009

Bergen and out to the Norwegian Sea, as seen from the top of Ulriken – June 4, 2009, 10:31 am

Ulriken views of the terrace and to the southern Bergen valley – June 4, 2009, 10:38 am

The hike between Ulriken and Fløyen is very popular … and, if you want to push yourself, consider visiting Bergen the end of May to participate in the 7-mountain hike (7-fjellsturen) – not a race, but a chance to spend a Sunday covering approximately 35 km/22 miles with a total ascent of 2,300 meters/7546 feet!

What is it about taking photos through a plane window? They never capture the real depth of the actual view, the windows are dirty so the photos aren’t clear … and, if we’re taking off or landing, we’ll get in trouble if we’re caught with our electronic equipment turned on.

Oops; I’ve done it before, and I did it this recent trip too!

Seeing our earth from thousands of feet up in the air is a surreal, floating experience … and even if photos or words don’t capture that experience adequately, they’re still a glimpse of something almost magical. (Humans flying in heavy machines – that’s magic, isn’t it?)

In all my flights, there are three shots I wish I could have taken; words will have to do:

– In February 2005 I had an opportunity to go to Las Vegas for my brother’s wedding. I’d flown before that – Germany, Mexico City, plus trips in the eastern U.S. to visit family and friends – but I’d never flown out west. Seeing the U.S. landscape change as we flew from Maryland towards Vegas was interesting … but seeing the Rocky Mountains was fascinating! The colors, the topography, the rugged look – so different compared to the mountains of the U.S. east coast. Our flight landed late afternoon, and the sun’s setting colors on the Rockies is an image I carry in my mind’s eye: angular, edgy, raw. Cold, yet warmed by the sun’s glow. Seeing those colors in reality helps me appreciate the color palette of western-themed paintings (or even silly restaurant wall murals).

– Several years ago I was returning from a trip to the States. My flight into Bergen was on a clear and beautifully sunny morning, and our flight pattern took us north of the city before banking south to come into the airport. We flew down the Bergen valley, and looking out my window on the right side of the plane I saw Løvstakken and, on its south side, our townhouse community. It was such an “ahhhhhhh” moment! Everything looked so perfect in miniature. If I’d had binoculars, I probably could have looked into our living room window!

– I also wish I could have taken a photo as we landed at Chicago O’Hare on my way back to Norway this recent trip. It was about 5:30 in the afternoon, the sun was heading down, I was on the left side of the plane, and we were coming in from the north – I had the perfect view of the Chicago skyline and our plane shadow racing us on the ground as we descended towards the runway, getting bigger and bigger, and faster and faster, and then catching us as we touched down. But the flight attendant had already had an issue with someone sitting in front of me not wanting to turn off his phone, so I thought turning on my camera wasn’t the *best* thing to do.

But I had gorgeous travel weather on all the legs of my recent trip, requested window seats because of that, and did snap a couple photos … some “legal,” one perhaps not-so-much. 😉

This photo I was the most excited to get on this trip – our home! Landing in Bergen and watching the landscape carefully, I thought I saw Lysøen, and across from it the hill/mountain topped by our house .. and then I saw the ferry that I watch when sitting on my front bench, and knew I had the landscape right! Since we were landing, I had turned off my camera and iPod … but (shhhh!) snuck my iPod out, so I could snap this pic.

For perspective, here’s one from October 11th looking at an airborne plane in the sky at approximately the same place I took my through-a-plane-window photo – if you look closely, you’ll see the tiny dot in the sky. 😉

Yesterday was one of those “fog smoke” days that totally capture my attention and imagination – and make it almost impossible to work from home! I kept peeking out our front sliding doors with my camera to try and capture the changing scenery. The fjord and the air temperatures create such interesting “landscapes” in the sky – at 100 meters up, sometimes they’re above us, sometimes below us, and often all around us.

I posted photos and descriptions of this before when we lived on the side of Løvstakken and overlooked the southern Bergen valley and Nordåsvatnet. Sometimes it was a complete cloud cover below us; sometimes it was just a thinner type of mist advancing up the mountain and then receding. There’s also one post about being walled in by fog all day here in our little bit of heaven overlooking Lysøen. It’s spooky yet peaceful, claustrophobic yet beautiful, and tiring yet exhilarating – all at the same time.

But back to yesterday: my husband was up early; he said that the sky was blue when the sun began rising. When I got up about 8:30 we were almost totally fogged in – we could see a little blue behind our house/over the mountain to the east of us as the sun was burning off the fog. That “burn off” thinning continued for a bit, then the fog fought back and settled in again … and that battle went on all day.

It was gorgeous – especially the views to our left/the west, out over the islands towards the North Sea. Some of the fog patterns such as these make me feel as if I’m peering out of an airplane window flying above the clouds … but without the airplane engine noises from the other side of the window!

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I “digitally stitched” a few shots together to try and capture the panoramic view (click each one for the larger image).

I wrote about my emotional reaction the first time I visited Monhegan Island, Maine with my good friend Monica. There are several photos on that webpage; these are a couple different perspectives of that deeply moving visit.

(The next time we visited, we were closed in by fog the entire trip. Not good for photos, but an even more intimate, inward-turning journey of self discovery.)

Our grandson and his parents left this morning for the next stage of their five week trip. This house is so empty; this image expresses that void perfectly.

And our canine family member is still “vacationing” on her favorite person’s couch – Jan will pick her up tomorrow – so I don’t even have her following me around to keep the alone feelings away. I thought I’d post a photo of MacKenzie from a month ago, enjoying the Norwegian summer sunshine. Maybe it will cheer me up?

Although we decided to not wait in line to explore the inside of Westminster Abbey, just walking along the outside of a place so full of history was enough. It was particularly interesting for me to view it from the back and sides, while standing in the grassy area outside the Jewel Tower.

Walking along the sidewalk across the street from the Palace of Westminster past the statue of George V, and then turning to the left to get to another side of Westminster Abbey, we visually explored St. Margaret’s Church.

Once I got home I did a little digging into why there was another church so close to Westminster Abbey. I found this, which told me that when Westminster Abbey was a Benedictine Abbey, the monks were disturbed by the people of Westminster that came to hear Mass. And so a little church was built, to allow the people to “… receive all the sacraments and ministrations of the Church, thus leaving the monks in the Abbey undisturbed … The church was dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch about whom little is known, though her cult was extremely popular in the middle ages.”

The bell began to ring as we were walking by – perfect timing!

In reading about the bells of London, I found this from the Nursery Rhymes – Lyrics, Origins & Historywebsite:

“The Bells of London are telling us Stories! The stories relating to the Bells of London reflect the history of the city and the people who lived there. At first glance the(y) … look to be interesting poems which include the most famous bells and churches of London. But the rhyme is actually very clever for the words the bells are saying, such as ‘Oranges and Lemons’, ‘Bullseyes and Targets’ and ‘Pokers and Tongs’, reveal the many long-gone trades practised and wares sold by the people who lived in the great city of London. They also reveal the history of life in London!”

According to the specific page of that website about the bells of St. Margaret’s Church, they are “… ‘Bullseyes and Targets,’ and refer to archery which was practised in the nearby fields. In 1363 King Edward III had commanded the obligatory practice of archery on Sundays and holidays. This tradition continued, thus ensuring the safety of the Realm, until Bows were replaced with guns.”

Fascinating! I wish I’d known then that – as I stood there – I was HEARING a part of English history, not just seeing it! But what perfect timing for us to be walking by as the bells began ringing. They must have known a history buff and a musician were in their midst. 😉

We continued walking in front of St. Margaret’s (well, Jan tried to continue walking … I kept stopping to take photos).

And then, just past St. Margaret’s, we walked by the side entrance to Westminster Abbey. Looking at all the people, it solidified our decision to NOT go inside; I just stood there and soaked up the London sunshine in the presence of history.

We walked a little further, to the “gathering area” of tourists buying tickets to stand in that line. Jan talked to a taxi driver who knew the perfect place for us to head out for our first “pub lunch,” and I took one last photo of Big Ben – our whole reason for visiting this part of London on our first morning there – and part of St. Margaret’s Church.

We drove by this area a couple times over the next few days, and it was always crowded. A visit back when the summer tour buses are gone and there are fewer people around sounds like a good plan!

London was wonderful and exciting (more photos and thoughts to come), but I have to admit that when we got back a week ago I stood outside and soaked in the space, quiet and view. (I purposely chose the word “soaked” – it’s rained every day since we got back.)

But today is sunny, and MacKenzie is expressing exactly the way I feel: after time away, it’s wonderful to sit up on our “hill” and survey our own piece of heaven.

Ironically, there was a tour boat going by on the fjord 100 meters below us – other travelers exploring a new part of the world for them!

Although early spring seemed promising, and we have had a few nice days over the last few months, for the most part it’s been a cold and rainy late spring/summer in the Bergen area.

You never know what the coastal climate and mountains will create. I do enjoy the energy I have in cool weather, the feel of drizzle on my face, and the sound of rain dripping outside my window while I’m sleeping – but enough is enough! I’m ready for some extensive warm weather and sunshine.

This was the forecast a couple weeks ago:

This was my view out my home office window all day today:

To compare:

This has been my view out front across the fjord all day today:

To compare:

Sigh. We’re in our own little fog-shrouded cocoon – I loved it when that happened to our townhouse on the side of Løvstakken, but it would pass fairly quickly. Today has been constant!

Please understand, I’m not really complaining … while watching the tour boats on the fjord sailing past Ole Bull’s villa, I’ve made the comment to friends and family that tourists spend a lot of money to travel to this part of the world to take in the sites and experiences that I have available if I sit on my bench just outside my sliding front door.

But Norwegian-Sea-fogged-in days like today do get to me after a while.

To end with a *little* sunshine … on July 6th Jan and I did get to enjoy a delayed 4th of July American Independence Day “let’s grill outside” celebration: